As the weather warms, runners hit the trails again, trading snowpack for solid ground (and rock gardens). In the face of early-season sleet, rain, mud, and wildly varying temperatures, preparation is the key.
Against this backdrop, Arc’teryx has introduced its Spring Mountain Run collection, aimed at both trail and road runners. The pieces focus on balancing comfort and performance in variable conditions, reflecting the demands of running through the season’s volatile weather.
Arc’teryx Sylan 2: A Firm, Efficient Ride
As part of the Spring Mountain Run collection, the Arc’teryx Sylan 2 trail runner (for women or men) delivers a firm, efficient ride that transitions smoothly between paces. A dual-density midsole boasts a Pebax core updated with supercritical foam and a forked carbon plate, while a lowered, forward rocker helps maintain steady propulsion.
The engineered knit upper blends nylon, TPU and TPE, with a high collar and tongue-less design that wraps the foot securely. The material is soft and holds its shape well; the fit is snug through the midfoot with a slightly narrow forefoot.
A 31/25 mm stack provides enough cushioning for longer runs. The Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole, with 3-4 mm lugs, offers reliable traction across mixed surfaces without excess weight.
Sylan 2: A Q&A with the Arc’teryx Design Team
ML: Tell us more about this supercritical foam compound and how it maximizes propulsion and energy return, and reduces fatigue.
To maximize propulsion and energy return in the Sylan 2, we used a custom lightweight supercritical foam, engineered to return more of the energy the wearer puts into each step instead of letting it dissipate. This allows the foam to compress on impact and rebound quickly, delivering a responsive, spring-like feel underfoot that helps maintain momentum with less effort.
While the supercritical foam was used to make the Sylan faster, the material on its own can feel unstable on technical terrain so our team paired the foam with complementary elements to balance speed with control. That included a carbon fibre-composite plate in the midsole to add structure and directional stability, along with an outsole designed for reliable trail traction and to kick off extra dirt.
We used a custom lightweight supercritical foam, engineered to return more of the energy the wearer puts into each step instead of letting it dissipate.
ML: Some people shy away from trail running because they don’t want to twist an ankle or fall. How does this shoe’s carbon-fibre plate add stability on trail terrain?
The Sylan 2’s carbon-fibre plate, located in the midsole is designed to work with the shoe’s geometry and fit to reduce in-shoe movement and keep the athlete’s foot more securely aligned over the platform. While there’s often some hesitation around carbon plates in the trail space, our team worked through many prototypes to create a plate that feels unnoticeable, simply guiding and supporting the foot without getting in the way.
ML: Who should use this shoe?
This is the shoe for race day, a FKT attempt or higher-output training runs, ideal for trail runners looking to maintain speed over longer distances, rather than a more versatile, everyday trail option.
The inspiration for the Sylan 2 came from our mountain run athletes who are reaching new heights in technical terrain. Compared to our other footwear offerings, for example the Norvan, the Sylan 2 sits at the faster, more performance-driven end of the lineup. This Sylan 2 is specifically engineered for speed, both on the uphill and downhill.
We’ve already seen some huge achievements in the Sylan 2 amongst our athletes, with Arc’teryx EMEA athlete Edoardo Roassano placing podium at El Gigante VK during Trans Gran Canaria in just 42:49. In the earlier stages of Sylan 2 development, Jessie Diggins won the Squamish 23K in a prototype, and Emma Cook-Clarke placed 10th in the Vertical KM at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.
Check out this excellent piece from the Arc’teryx blog, “In Search of the Perfect Run.”
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